Correction: Please note that a representative for the cast has reached out to me and I have updated the article to reflect the information that was provided to me today. During the event, tensions were high and misinformation happens. In an attempt to keep this article as accurate as possible, I have retracted one part and you will see this reflected in the article. Please note, that this was not an intentional misrepresentation of facts.

﻿Previously on Space City Comic Con.....

Thousands made their way to NRG Park this year for Space City Comic Con. The main attraction was the cast of FX's smash hit show Sons Of Anarchy. The fans poured in and many spent an upward of thousands of dollars to get their chance to score autographs, pictures and VIP treatment at the event. What they received was far from what they paid for and many of the General Admission ticket holders were treated better than the VIPS. Many VIPS opened their wallets and depleted their savings for this once in a lifetime event.

I attended this event to review it and cover the festivities for everyone who couldn't make it. Yet, when I showed up, I was blown away at how disorganized this convention was. Long lines for VIPS, panels canceled, and photo op tickets not being honored. I've never seen such a poorly ran event.

In my previous article, I covered these main points and upon posting to social media, the comments and responses came flooding in. I knew I had to get back and get answers. I wanted to first thank each and everyone of you that shared with me your experiences, shared the article and got the word around.

Information desk

After receiving no help at the Media & Special Guest desk, I headed where I'm sure many of you went, the Information Desk. The two working at the desk were over worked, and underpaid (many of the staff were actually volunteers). They were able to direct me to a gentleman named Phil, who agreed to help me and called down the "man in charge" named Johnny Steverson. He was called on the radio and I was told he would meet me at the information desk in 10 minutes, he was on his way. Well that didn't happen. Many of the SOA agents and other talent's agents were there waiting as well. I can tell you that NONE were happy. What I did manage to find out, was that many of the volunteers bailed Friday when the shit hit the fan. They were "paid" by free access into the event to look around. They also cited, the main problem was lack of communication. No one reported information back to them, so they had no idea what was going on. Many requested Walkie-Talkies to get information but were denied, and told that they "don't want to know". Many of you reported that staff was completely unhelpful when you approached them with questions. They were left in the dark, just as much as the attendees. I wasn't able to get a comment from Co-Owner Johnny Steverson, but apparently Houston Press was able to. This was taken from an article published by Houston Press's reporter Jef Rouner.

Some of the celebrities got off to a late start Friday, which sparked outrage online. Co-owner Johnny Steverson explained it was due to the bad weather delaying their arrival. Vendors Sunday that we checked with said they’d started on time....After that, Steverson went into strict no comment mode when asked about reports of bounced checks including one to Sons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam who was reported to have been at the event Saturday morning but left. Steverson also said no comment when asked if any VIP ticket purchasers had requested their money back. There were reports Saturday that not all pre-paid celebrity autographs were being honored.

Rusty Coones Interview

While talking with Mr. Coones, it became clear that many of the reports on social media were correct. I refused to report on any of it, until I had information directly from a source. The previously included statement about the rooms not being paid for has been retracted- A representative from the staff contacted me and informed me that I was misinformed about the exact situation. There was a mishap regarding the hotel check in. The credit card for the room was for the reservations and not for incidentals. Upon checking in, some cast members had to pay cash for the incidentals, instead of putting their own credit card up, and risking being charged upon checking out. The cast was NOT charged for their room. I was informed during the interview, that there was a problem checking in the hotel due to the credit card not being accepted, it later was realized that we should clarify to what extent. When Mr. Hunnam took his check to the bank to cash it, he found out that the check that was given to him was written from an account that had been CLOSED. This happened to the entire cast. Many of the actors went to the promoters office to demand payment, where the promoter ended up calling the cops because he was "being held hostage". The cast was in no way held him hostage, but wanted answers and payment. The panel schedule was completely jacked up, the cast was not given the correct times for photo ops and for panels. The Friday panel was canceled due to the AVI team refusing to allow anyone onstage until they were paid. They were promised payment upfront, instead they weren't paid and pulled the plug on the event. The cast was all there, waiting to go on. It seems that the event promoter broke the contract not once, but TWICE. He attempted to pay the cast with pre-sale ticket money. This would explain why there were so many inconsistencies and ticket gouging happening online. Many people were "forced" to buy the VIP because there was no option to purchase a day pass. Overall, it was clear after this interview that a huge CON had taken place, leaving the cast unpaid and the fans unaware of what was happening. The promoter was described by cast as a "fraud, unethical and has broken the contract twice."

Saving Grace

﻿﻿While the cast and fans were screwed royally, Space City Comic Con officials have yet to comment on whether or not refunds will be issued, or when the cast will be paid. Many cast members stayed at the event all weekend, taking photos and signing autographs for the fans. They were no longer able to accept the pre-purchased tickets, but they lowered the prices for everyone so each fan could get an autograph and photo. I have to say, the cast was amazing and went out of their way for the fans. In the end, these guys lost time and money and were violated by broken contracts and lies. If it was me, I don't know if I would've stayed.

Final Thoughts

Although the convention ended up being a disaster for not only the attendees, but the SOA cast, there were some pretty decent parts. The other exhibitors were great and there was a lot of talent that were overshadowed due to the unfortunate events. I met some amazing people while there and my heart goes out to everyone, including the cast that were taken advantage of and ripped off. I met two amazing ladies that run a SOA fan group. You can find the on Twitter @soaaddicts and @sutterphiles. I will have links below to check them out. I want to thank each and every one of you that shared my articles and shared your experiences with me. It's been the greatest pleasure to meet you all and I hope that this event doesn't hinder future comic conventions. This is NOT how they are ran. If you have any information about the facebook group that was started by attendees, please message me or leave a comment with that link. I would love to follow up to see the outcome of all of this. Thank you again to Rusty Coones and his staff for accommodating this lonely journalist on her quest to provide fans with the truth. Many refused to offer a comment but you rose above all of it for the FANS. I truly applaud that and respect you tremendously. Best wishes to you both in all future endeavors.

I have to give a huge shoutout and thanks to these guys. They took time to help me get my interview and get the info I needed. Best advice of the day from a wise man, never give up at a no, you wont get anywhere in life if you take no for an answer. This article would not have been possible without his help.

Much of this would not have been possible without everyone's contributions. Thank you all for allowing me to share the truth with the masses. Your support allows me to continue to do what I love.

This year's Space City Comic Con seemed to be the event of the year. The SOA World Reunion in Houston, Texas enticed thousands of fans from all parts of the world. Each week the anticipation kept building as new cast members were added. Charlie Hunnam signed on last month and the excitement was through the roof. That's about all the good that I have for the event for now. Now lets get to some shitty points that everyone needs to know.

﻿Ticket Gouging

﻿﻿About two weeks before the event, I decided to look online and price some tickets as I was notified that the media may not have access to the panel, and only if there was room after the paid admissions were in. That's cool, I didn't mind that, but what I found was there was only the SOA VIP tickets available. Everything else was sold out. I passed on tickets. Two days before the event, I checked again. Well damn, there were tickets, HIDDEN by a drop down menu that many, I suspected would miss. I was right. I still opted to take my chances with my Media Pass. I spoke to a wonderful woman sitting beside me at the Panel who explained that she was forced to buy the $300 dollar ticket because that was the only ones that weren't sold out. My suspicion was confirmed. She then told me that she was waiting in line to get her autograph from Charlie Hunnam that she paid for, but he never showed during her time. We parted ways and I took notes. (we will get back to the Panel later in this story) I checked the website again, before publishing this article and found that the same thing is happening again. There are no more daily passes available, only weekend passes. Before there was Saturday only, Sunday only ect. Why would someone spend $60 on a weekend pass, to only attend SUNDAY. They are taking advantage of the fans here.﻿

Long Lines and Poor Treatment of VIP﻿

Upon arriving, I noticed this huge line of people. I stopped and talked to a few of the attendees to find out what was going on. This line (pictured above) was for the VIP and Will Call. The couple pictured I spoke to said they had been in line for over an hour. On top of swindling these people out of hundreds of dollars, the staff were so ill prepared that the lines are as far as you can see. This happened Friday and Saturday. It was faster for General Admission than it was for VIP packages. The ticket prices ranged from $300 and up for the VIP passes. $40 for a one day General Admission. The people who paid for the VIP were supposed to receive Express Panel LinesExpress Celebrity Booth and Photo Op LinesExclusive VIP Print(s)Early Vendor Hall EntryCollectible VIP BadgeSpace City Comic Con swag3 Day event and panel entry

At the whopping prices they paid, they received- LONG lines, early access to a panel that was canceled, computers that were down, preventing people from getting their VIP packages, NO SWAG, and many missed their opportunity to get autographs. That's a pretty big letdown.

﻿Who dropped the ball?

There were a lot of rumors and the staff didn't have a straight answer for anyone. During the SOA Saturday Panel. Four cast members finally showed up after postponing the event for over 30 minutes. We were informed that the panel was canceled. Social media was ablaze with tweets of problems at the con. Kim Coates tweeted the following just minutes before everyone was supposed to come on stage.

Rumors such as the cast weren't getting paid on arrival as stated in the contract were swirling the convention. As of publishing this article, I can not confirm this. I am headed back tomorrow to attempt to get a comment on the matter. Once I have a confirmed story, I will update this article.

The Good

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿There were a few memorable moments from the convention. I have to applaud the cast, because if the rumors were true and they didn't get paid, they stayed for their fans. That is something amazing in itself. The fans were the ones who really stole the show. At the SOA Panel, we were able to hear so many moving stories from people who had suffered traumatic events and thanked the cast for the show, because it was SOA that helped them deal with the trauma and heal.

The most moving moment was when Danny Dietz mother presented Ron Perlman with a Navy Seal Challenge Coin. If you have a moment, please check out the Danny Deitz Facebook link at the end of the article. We will have a full article up about this moment because it truly needs to be shared and was heart warming.

I've been to lots of comic conventions, its my passion. I love to review them and share with you all what's happening. Sadly, this event was so poorly planned and a lot of people were taken advantage of. My heart goes out to all the actors and artists that made this event bearable, for the fans. It does not go unnoticed. I will do everything I can to get the entire story. More to come tomorrow! Make sure to check out our Facebook page for photos at the con!

Space City Comic Con returns to NRG Center with stars of sci-f, fantasy, fantasy, and pop culture film, TV, games, and comics, and the return of Star Trek Captain William Shatner this Memorial Day weekend. Exhibitors will fill NRG Center with collectibles, comics, original art, props, models, games, and more, while stars of cosplay and inventive patrons create favorite characters from every genre.

Continuing to build on its great tradition of cast reunions Space City Comic Con has brought together the cast of the mega-popular Sons of Anarchy TV series for the largest cast reunion ever done. Fan favorite superstar Charlie Hunnam is making his first-ever three-day signing appearance to meet fans, and his much-coveted autograph or photo ops are offered for a nominal charge.Promoter George Comits, said, “This was a no-brainer, seeing crowds drawn to Galveston’s annual Lone Star Rally, and knowing that the fandom for Sons of Anarchywould jump at the chance to meet their idols in person, get professional photo ops and autographs signed.” The buzz could entice show-creator Kurt Sutter to attend and share some tidbits of the prequel series he is developing. According to Comits, “Sutter and his wife, actress Katey Sagal (‘Gemma’) have expressed interest in joining their fellow cast members in Houston if their busy schedule permits and may be announced for an appearance at the last minute.”This reunion began with headliner Ron Perlman,well known for many famous roles in fantasy and sci-fi, including ‘Vincent’ inBeauty and the Beast with Linda Hamilton; the ‘Hellboy’ franchise (and co-starDoug Jones is also attending ‘Houston’s Hometown Comic Con’); Pacific Rim (co-star Charlie Hunnam). His intensity as ‘Clay Morrow’ on SOA has been followed by his new series, Hand of God, with his SOA co-star Jacob Vargas(Netflix Luke Cage). San Antonio’s fan-favorite Emilio Rivera (Z-Nation), leader of the ‘Mayans’ gang, is very active on Twitter about the reunion.The all-star cast headed to Houston includes Michael Beach (The 100, Third Watch, ER), Mark Boone Jr (Momento, Batman Begins), Kim Coates (Black Hawk Down, CSI), Rusty Coones, Tommy Flanagan (Braveheart, Gladiator, Gotham, Guaradians of the Galaxy 2), Ryan Hurst (Outsiders, Bates Motel, Wanted), David Labrava, Michael Ornstein (NCIS, Mob City), Niko Nicotera, Christopher Reed,and Kristen Renton.William Shatner, “Captain Kirk” returns with several Star Trek veterans to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the franchise, including Marina Sirtis (’Counselor Troi’) and Michael Dorn (’Lt. Worf’). Dr. Who will be ably represented by Colin Baker (“The Doctor“), Alex Kingston (“River Song“), and Billie Piper (“Rose Tyler“). Additional celebrity guests come from art, comics, gaming, voice, talent, writing, and cosplay. Cosplay — character costuming — has enjoyed explosive popularity, from science fiction conventions to historic events such as Texas Renaissance Festival to the recent SyFy Network series “Heroes of Cosplay.”Some of the most popular Cosplayers in fandom will be on hand and patrons are encouraged to come in costume. Space Cadets Collection Collection will host a Cosplay (costuming) Competition. SuperCon2K series brings all console, tournament, and Alienware videogaming to the show. Popular shows like Game of Thrones, Star Trek, and Power Rangers will have cast members attending. Kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult ticket. TheCowabunga Factory team of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be on hand for free pictures with the children.Space City Comic Con is a pop and fan culture family entertainment expo for all ages, of comics, sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, literature, and art, in the spirit greater Houston and the Gulf Coast. It offers the best convention experience possible for current generations of fans, and instills a love of comics, cosplay, sci-fi and fantasy in the next generations. Space City Comic Con is about “bringing fans together.”Space City Comic Con takes place at NRG Center, One NRG Park, Houston, Texas 77054The show is open to all ages. There are a variety of admission options from single day to VIP with amazing perks, all available through the event website. Autograph and photo op vouchers can also be purchased in advance or onsite.